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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68166</law_id><section_number>8.5A-102</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>8.5A-103</reference><reference>8.5A-108</reference><reference>8.9A-102</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="8.5A">Uniform Commercial Code &#x2014; Letters of Credit</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="a"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> In this title: <a id="paragraph-246726" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Adviser</span>&#x201D; means a person who, at the request of the <span class="dictionary">issuer</span>, a <span class="dictionary">confirmer</span>, or another <span class="dictionary">adviser</span>, notifies or requests another <span class="dictionary">adviser</span> to notify the <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span> that a <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span> has been issued, confirmed, or amended. <a id="paragraph-246727" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#a1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Applicant</span>&#x201D; means a person at whose request or for whose account a <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span> is issued. The term includes a person who requests an <span class="dictionary">issuer</span> to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span> on behalf of another if the person making the request undertakes an obligation to reimburse the <span class="dictionary">issuer</span>. <a id="paragraph-246728" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#a2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Beneficiary</span>&#x201D; means a person who under the terms of a <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span> is entitled to have its complying <span class="dictionary">presentation</span> honored. The term includes a person to whom drawing rights have been transferred under a transferable <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span>. <a id="paragraph-246729" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#a3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Confirmer</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">nominated person</span> who undertakes, at the request or with the consent of the <span class="dictionary">issuer</span>, to <span class="dictionary">honor</span> a <span class="dictionary">presentation</span> under a <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span> issued by another. <a id="paragraph-246730" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#a4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Dishonor</span>&#x201D; of a <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span> means failure timely to <span class="dictionary">honor</span> or to take an interim action, such as acceptance of a draft, that may be required by the <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span>. <a id="paragraph-246731" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#a5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Document</span>&#x201D; means a draft or other demand, <span class="dictionary">document</span> of title, investment security, certificate, invoice, or other <span class="dictionary">record</span>, statement, or representation of <span class="dictionary">fact</span>, <span class="dictionary">law</span>, right, or <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> (i) which is presented in a written or other medium permitted by the <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span> or, unless prohibited by the <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span>, by the standard practice referred to in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Issuer's rights and obligations" href="/8.5A-108/">8.5A-108</a>(e) and (ii) which is capable of being examined for compliance with the terms and conditions of the <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span>. A <span class="dictionary">document</span> may not be oral. <a id="paragraph-246732" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#a6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Good faith</span>&#x201D; means honesty in <span class="dictionary">fact</span> in the conduct or transaction concerned. <a id="paragraph-246733" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#a7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Honor</span>&#x201D; of a <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span> means performance of the <span class="dictionary">issuer</span>&#x2019;s undertaking in the <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span> to pay or deliver an item of value. Unless the <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span> otherwise provides, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">honor</span>&#x201D; occurs: <a id="paragraph-246734" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#a8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="i"><p><span class="prefix-number">i.</span> upon payment; <a id="paragraph-246735" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#i"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="iii" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">ii.</span> if the <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span> provides for acceptance, upon acceptance of a draft and, at maturity, its payment; or <a id="paragraph-246736" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#iii"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="iiii" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">iii.</span> if the <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span> provides for incurring a deferred obligation, upon incurring the obligation and, at maturity, its performance. <a id="paragraph-246737" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#iiii"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="i9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Issuer</span>&#x201D; means a bank or other person that <span class="dictionary">issues</span> a <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span>, but does not include an individual who makes an engagement for personal, family, or household purposes. <a id="paragraph-246738" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#i9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="i10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Letter of credit</span>&#x201D; means a definite undertaking that satisfies the requirements of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Formal requirements" href="/8.5A-104/">8.5A-104</a> by an <span class="dictionary">issuer</span> to a <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span> at the request or for the account of an <span class="dictionary">applicant</span> or, in the case of a financial institution, to itself or for its own account, to <span class="dictionary">honor</span> a documentary <span class="dictionary">presentation</span> by payment or delivery of an item of value. <a id="paragraph-246739" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#i10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="i11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Nominated person</span>&#x201D; means a person whom the <span class="dictionary">issuer</span> (i) designates or authorizes to pay, accept, negotiate, or otherwise give value under a <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span> and (ii) undertakes by agreement or custom and practice to reimburse. <a id="paragraph-246740" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#i11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="i12" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Presentation</span>&#x201D; means delivery of a <span class="dictionary">document</span> to an <span class="dictionary">issuer</span> or <span class="dictionary">nominated person</span> for <span class="dictionary">honor</span> or giving of value under a <span class="dictionary">letter of credit</span>. <a id="paragraph-246741" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#i12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="i13" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Presenter</span>&#x201D; means a person making a <span class="dictionary">presentation</span> as or on behalf of a <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span> or <span class="dictionary">nominated person</span>. <a id="paragraph-246742" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#i13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="i14" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">14.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Record</span>&#x201D; means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium, or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form. <a id="paragraph-246743" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#i14"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="i15" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">15.</span> &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Successor of a beneficiary</span>&#x201D; means a person who succeeds to substantially all of the rights of a beneficiary by operation of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, including a corporation with or into which the beneficiary has been merged or consolidated, an administrator, executor, personal representative, trustee in <span class="dictionary">bankruptcy</span>, debtor in <span class="dictionary">possession</span>, liquidator, and receiver. <a id="paragraph-246744" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#i15"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> Definitions in other titles applying to this title and the sections in which they appear are:
			&#x201C;Accept&#x201D; or &#x201C;Acceptance&#x201D; &#x2014; &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Acceptance of draft; certified check" href="/8.3A-409/">8.3A-409</a>.
			&#x201C;Value&#x201D; &#x2014; &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Value and consideration" href="/8.3A-303/">8.3A-303</a> and <a class="law" title="Cancellation and amendment of payment order" href="/8.4A-211/">8.4A-211</a>. <a id="paragraph-246745" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="c"><p><span class="prefix-number">c.</span> Title 8.1A contains certain additional general definitions and principles of construction and interpretation applicable throughout this title. <a id="paragraph-246746" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-102/#c"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1997, c. 343; 2003, c. 353.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
